Pretty colors over pretty rocks pt2! Thursday sunrise at humpback

OVERVIEW

Hi friends! Last week’s sunrise hike was so fun, so here I am back for another round!

The plan is to hike up to the top of Humpback (～1 mile each way) in the dark under the Shenandoah Mountains’ beautiful starry sky, watch the sun rise over da pretty mountains, be filled with feelings of awe, peace and joy as we take in nature’s beauty, and then head down in time for most morning classes! I’ve also been wanting to get back into meditating so I was thinking of doing a lil 10-15 minute sesh while at the top so if there’s interest we could do it as a group, but nothing obligatory or set in stone there. About the return time: we’ll be back around 8:30ish, so plenty before 9:00am if everything goes to plan, I can’t 100% guarantee you make it for 9am classes just because you never know, though the odds are pretty good.

Time outline:
5:20- meet at the corner of Echols dorm, leave by 5:25 /at the latest (please don’t be late!)
6:00- arrive at humpback, hike up rocks
6:40-summit and sit on da rocks, admire purty colors
7:30ish- start heading down
8ish- get back to car
back at grounds around 8:30 or so (depending on when we start heading down; there should be enough wiggle room to safely make it back by 9 but again I can’t guarantee for sure)

Trail description: it’s a little under a mile to make it up to the top, but it is very steep! This hike can be for any level-hiker, just be aware that it’s challenging (and please keep in mind that doing this in the dark on the way up is an added challenge). However, we will take a slow-moderate pace and take breaks as we ascend because I’m a firm believer of hikes not being a race and all about stopping and smelling da roses (or drinking da water to recover from steep climbing).

What to bring:
*Headlamp and/or flashlight (important!!) A headlamp would be ideal and a flashlight as a secod resort as t will be DARK on the way up before the sunrise and hiking up a rocky trail in the dark with something in your hands is hard
Layers (another biggie! It’s windy and cold at the top !! )
Hiking shoes & comfy hiking clothes
Water
Snacks if desired (I will bring a package of pumpkin seeds for all of us to share too)
Sunshine and positivity ☼ (˘▽˘)
*You can check some out from the Gear Room (check announcements for hours)

I have my own car so I can drive us and drop off each person wherever on Grounds when we come back!